This invention relates to packaged, fresh, ready to eat foods.
While pre-packaged, ready to eat foods are a great convenience, such foods do not necessarily equate to a healthy meal comprising high quality ingredients as these factors are often sacrificed for ease of packaging, shelf life and transport considerations. Furthermore, unless the packaged food is frozen, it has a relatively limited shelf life even when refrigerated. There is clearly an opportunity to provide packaged, fresh, ready to eat foods having an extended shelf life which provide a healthy meal using fresh ingredients of the highest quality.
In one aspect, the invention concerns a cylindrical container for holding food items. In an example embodiment, the container comprises a cylindrical sidewall surrounding a central space for receiving the food items. The sidewall defines an opening at a first end. A bottom is attached to a second end of the sidewall opposite to the first end. A gas permeable membrane covers the opening and is attached to the sidewall to promote and extend freshness and edible life of the food items. A lid covers the membrane and is removably attached to the sidewall. In a specific example embodiment the sidewall is cylindrical and the opening has a diameter equal to or less than 3.75 inches in diameter.
By way of example, food items within the container may be primarily comprised of fresh, ready to eat vegetables and lettuces. In a further example embodiment, the food items may be primarily comprised of fresh, ready to eat fruits.
In an example embodiment, one or more inert gases are contained within the central space of the container. The inert gases may include carbon dioxide or nitrogen or combinations thereof. Further by way of example, the gases may comprise residual oxygen contained within the central space. In a specific example, the inert gases comprise carbon dioxide over a range from 0% to 40% by volume. In a further example, the inert gases comprise nitrogen over a range from 60% to 100% by volume. Also by way of example, the gases may have a gas content from 0.5% to 20% oxygen by volume. In another example embodiment, the inert gases may comprise 5% oxygen, 18% carbon dioxide and 77% nitrogen by volume.
In an example embodiment of the container according to the invention the gas permeable membrane has a permeability such that equilibrium between the central space and the ambient is achieved within 48 hours of sealing the membrane to the container. Further by way of example, the gas permeable membrane may have a permeability such that the ready to eat food items maintain freshness from 30% to 40% longer than comparable packaged ready to eat food items. In an example embodiment, the gas permeable membrane has a permeability such that the food items maintain freshness for at least 10 days.
The container 12 comprises a gas impermeable sidewall 20 and a bottom 22. It is advantageous to form container 12 from a food grade polymer resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is resistant to breaking and can withstand repeated washings and sanitizing processes to allow reuse of the container. Sidewall 20 defines an opening 24 (
During packaging, an atmosphere of one or more gases is established within the container by drawing a partial vacuum within the container and then flushing the container with the gas or gases, which may be, for example, relatively inert gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and combinations thereof. Residual oxygen may also be within the container 12. Practical atmospheres within the container may comprise carbon dioxide over a range from 0%-40%, nitrogen over a range from 60%-100%, and oxygen over a range from 0.5%-20%. In a specific example embodiment, the atmosphere within the container 12 may comprise 5% oxygen, 18% carbon dioxide and 77% nitrogen. (All ranges are specified as a volume percentage.)
In a practical example, a partial vacuum in a range between about 500 to 975 millibars below standard atmospheric pressure is established within the container (with about −600 millibars being thought advantageous). The container is then flushed with a gas or a mixture of gases comprising about 0% to 40% by volume carbon dioxide and about 60% to 100% by volume nitrogen, with about 30% carbon dioxide and about 70% nitrogen by volume being thought advantageous. The gas flush is conducted at a pressure ranging from about 800 to 1013 millibars below standard atmospheric pressure, with about −950 millibars being thought advantageous. The container 12 is then sealed with the membrane 26 with the gas atmosphere within the container at the sub-atmospheric pressure. In the practical example described above the gas pressure within the container after the container is sealed comprises oxygen over a range from about 5% to 10% by volume, carbon dioxide over a range of about 5% to 40% by volume and nitrogen over a range of about 67% to 95% by volume. Specific gas content of 5% oxygen, 18% carbon dioxide and 77% nitrogen by volume is thought to be advantageous. The packaged salad 10 may further comprise a lid 28 removably attached to the container overlying the opening 24 and protecting the membrane 26. In an example embodiment container 12 comprises a jar wherein opening 24 has substantially the same diameter as the bottom 22. Other types of containers are of course feasible.
The food items comprising the packaged salad 10 are further protected from spoilage by the order in which they are positioned within the container 12. In the example salad, it is advantageous that the dressing 16 be positioned lowermost within contain 12 as shown in
As can be imagined, the number and variety of food items which can form a packaged salad 10 according to the invention leads to a large number of potential salad combinations. As a practical matter however, appetizing salads can be organized (although not limited) into four broad profiles depending on the food items positioned between the salad dressing and the lettuce item. The four example profiles are:
Research has furthermore shown that there is an optimum relative content of the ingredients for each of these profiles which leads to an appetizing salad which is expected to have a maximum shelf life when refrigerated. The relative content for each salad profile is present below.
I. Vegetable/Grain or Pasta/Cheese
II. Vegetable/Cheese/Protein
III. Vegetable/Protein/Grain or Pasta
IV. Vegetable/Protein/Grain or Pasta/Cheese
The invention also encompasses a method of preparing a packaged salad. By way of example, a method of preparing a packaged salad is shown in
positioning a salad dressing in a gas impermeable container having a bottom and an opening oppositely disposed from the bottom;
The one or more gases may comprise nitrogen, carbon dioxide and combinations thereof. Advantageously for extended shelf life, the membrane may be a gas permeable membrane. As noted above, in a practical example, the partial vacuum drawn within the container may be from about 500-975 millibars below standard atmospheric pressure, with about −600 millibars thought advantageous. Further by way of example, the gas flush is conducted at a pressure below standard atmospheric over a range of about 800-1013 millibars, with a pressure of about −950 millibars being thought advantageous. The gas flush may comprise carbon dioxide over arrange from about 0% to 40% by volume, and nitrogen over a range from about 60% to 100% by volume. A gas flush mixture of about 30% carbon dioxide and about 70% nitrogen by volume is thought advantageous. After the container is sealed, the gas content of the container may range from about 5% to 10% oxygen by volume, about 5% to 40% carbon dioxide by volume, and about 60% to 95% nitrogen by volume. In a practical example, a gas content of 5% oxygen, 18% carbon dioxide and 77% nitrogen by volume is thought to be advantageous.
An example method according to the invention may further comprise positioning one or more additional food items within the container between the salad dressing and the lettuce item. The additional food items may comprise a pickled vegetable item, a cooked vegetable item, a raw vegetable item, a grain item, a pasta item, a cheese item, a protein item and combinations thereof.
Further by way of example,
It is expected that packaged salads 10 according to the invention will provide appetizing meals which, under constant refrigeration, will last for at least 10 days without the formation of undesirable levels of bacteria or significant change in appearance of the contents. Furthermore, the packaging of the container contents, complete and without any intervening packaging or structure internal to the container is expected to contribute to the convenience of use, as preparation of the salad merely requires that the jar be shaken before opening to properly intermingle the contents.
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 17/346,401, filed Jun. 14, 2021, which application is based upon and claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/061,957, filed Aug. 6, 2020, all applications being hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63061957 | Aug 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17346401 | Jun 2021 | US |
Child | 18311019 | US |